Pressing of peat and the like



'W. B. J. ROBERTSON.

raessme or FEAT AND we LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 141.1921.-

Pmnma ,Ma 9, 1922.

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W. B. J. ROBERTSON. PRESSING OF HEAT AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION HLE'D MAY 14. I921.

MW. 5 b m o m a 4. m A J P B l I H3 W. B. l. ROBERTSON. PRESSING 0F FEAT AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED MAYHLIQZL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- H13. JTRoberzmn;

' rnnssnve or PEACE Ann isses.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it ROBERTSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 5 Monument Road, Edgbaston in the city of irmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to the Pressing of Peat and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide amachine for compressing peat and the like into blocks, and also to arrange in conjunction with such a machine means for automatically feeding the same with raw material, which means may be adapted to cut or otherwise excavate the material from the earth.

In the three accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the general arrangement of-a peat machine constructed in accordance with this invention. 1

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively. longitudinal section and part sectional plan showing diagrammatically the charging and compressing mechanism.

A rotatable table a is provided with a number of compression boxes Z) each. containing a plunger 0. Each plunger is fitted with a stem (Z arranged to co-operate with a fixed cam e. A spring f on the stem serves to produce the opposite movement of the plunger to that obtained from the cam. The table is carried by a ring 'gan'd rollers a, 2' serve to take the vertical and lateral thrusts between the table and ring. Rotation of the table is effected by a toothed bevel ring 7' which is engaged by a half pinion in (that is a pinion whose teeth extend around only one half of its periphery). During one half revolution of the pinion motion is imparted to the table, and during the other half revolution the table is stationary. The amount of movement given to the table in each active half revolution of the pinion is equal to the angular distance between the compression boxes.

In conjunction with the table is arranged a charging box Z fitted with a plunger m, actuated through a rod a, connecting rod 0, crank disc p, and bevel pinions from a shaft 7' which also carries the half pinion /c.

he arrangement of the mechanism is such that the plunger mis moved forward for charging a compression box while the table is stationary and returned while another WALLACE BRUCE JOSEPH ROBERTSON, t3 EDGBASTON, ENGLAND.

. charging II-IE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent. atgnted Eiay 9, 1922 Application filed May 14, 1921. i I l Serial no. 469,751.

T compression box is being brought into posiknown that I, W ALLACE Barron tion. I

Above the charging box is per 8 fitted with up the liver it arranged a hopteasing-rollers 2? which break peat supplied to the hopper and deinto the charging box. owing the cycle of operations, a quanpeat is fed f his is transferred bythe plun er m to the compression box which is opposite the outer uring the return of theplunger for the reception of another charge from the hopper, the table is moved through a sufiicient angular distance to bring another compression box into position. ment a sliding door a (with which the outer .endof each compression box isfitted) is moved from the open to the closed position across the outer end of t e compression box.

This movement may beeffected in any con-.

venient manner. A simple device as shown in the drawing consists of a pinion '0 carried on the box and engaging a rack 20 along the upper edge of-th'edoor. As soon as the table begins to move from the charging position this pinion engages a stationary rack a", and by its. movement relatively to that rack causes the doortobe closed.

During the subsequent table the contents of the charged box is fixed cam. e. Vhen the box is approaching the discharge position the shape of the cam e is such that the pressure of the plunger 0 is released and the pinion o engages another fixed rack 1 which causes the door to be opened. In the next movement of the table the con pressed block of peat is discharged. The discharge position is shown by a in Figure 3, and in the next position the now empty box receives another charge. Each compression box passes in turn through the same cycle.

Preferably the apparatus above described is mounted on a portable frame 2 which is provided on each side with an endless track chain 3 or the like for supporting and moving the frame. Also the frame may be fitted with an internal combustion engine 4 driving a dynamo 5. The latter supplies current to an electric motor 6 which operates reduction gear contained in a box 7 and also a worm gear 8 for actuating the track chain. Motion. is transmitted by a chain 9 to the om the hopper into the During this .moveend of the charging box. 1

shaft 1'. The rollers 25 may also derive their motion from the mechanism in the box T, or they may be driven by a separate electric motor receiving current from the dynamo For charging the feed hopper a suitable frame structure 10 is arranged adjacent to the hopper and on this structure is carried a laterally projecting arm 11' which can be raised and lowered on the said structure as required. The arm carries a truck 12 from which is suspended a grab 1 3 or other cutting" excavating or conveying device which is actuated by gearing on the truck, the gearing being driven by an electric motor receiving current from the dynamo. T he grab or the lilte is caused to travel along the arm :tor the purpose of transferring peat raised from the earth to the charging hopper. If desired the arm 11 or the structure 10 which carries it may be rotatable relatively to the frame. When fixed as shown, change of the position at which the grab or the like receives the peat is eliected by maneuvering the whole machine.

The invention is not limited to any partltltll mechanical or constructional details as these may be varied to meet different requirements.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In machines for compressing peat and the like, the combination of an intermittently rotatable compression box, a plunger in the box, a fixed cam acting in one direction on the plunger for compressing and ejecting the contents of the box, a spring acting on the plunger in the opposite direction for returning the plunger, a door on the outer end of the box, and means for charging the box with the material to be compressed, substantially as described.

In machines for compressing peat and the like, the combination of an intermittently rotatal'ile compression box, a plunger in the box, afixed cam acting on the plunger tor compressing and ejecting the contents of the box, a slidable door at the outer end of the box, a rack on the door, a toothed pinion on the box, a pair of fixed racks which by movements of the pinion relatively to the same impart opening and closing movements to the door, and means for charging the box with the material to be compressed, substantially as described.

3. In machines "for compressing peat and the like, the combination of an intermittently rotatable table, a plurality of radially disposed compression boxes on sail table, a plunger in each box for compressing and ejecting the contents of the box, a centrally placed stationary cam acting on all the plungers ot the compression boxes in the outward direction, aspring in conjunction with each plunger for moving the same in the inward direction, a slid-able door on the outer end of each box, a rack on each door, a pinion on each box engaging said rack, a pair oi fixed racks which are engaged in turn by each pinion for opening and closing the doors, an annular support for the table, a toothed wheel in conjunction with the table, a halt toothed wheel engaging the toothed wheel on the table and producing intermittent movements of the table, a charging box, a hopper communicating with the charging box, a plunger in said box for transferring material from the same to each compression box in turn, a crank disc and a connecting rod for actuating the charging box plunger, a pair of toothed wheels for operating the cranl: disc, and a driving shalt carrying one of said wheels and the aforesaid halt" toothed wheel for operating the table, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WALLACE BRUCE. JQSEPH RGBERTSDN. 

